Ok, the things I liked about this:
- mixed race main character, with a black scientist father, based off a real family on the Titanic
-compassion, discussion of race and class -- there's a lot to get into discussion wise

Thing I didn't love:
-missing some of the depth of previous books in the series
-the illustrations are extremely cartoonish, and offputting
-the friendship between Noelle and Pauline seems unrealistic -- it's like one of those soul mate romance novels -- not that one can't immediately find a best friend, but this friendship just lacked something.

I really love this series -- in particular, I love what Nikki Shannon Smith is doing with it -- her stories keep centering Black children in history in a way that most other writers have failed to do. She's bringing visibility to the fact that not only have Black people been in this country since its founding, but they've also been active participants in most, if not all of the significant events. She backs up her fiction with really great spotlight nonfiction in the back matter, and she consistently involves lesser known historical figures in the narrative. ( )